New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-05
A WELL. KNOWN FIG URE GONE.
TRAITS OF A WASHINGTON LOBBYIST.

THE CHoLERIC COMMISSIONER OF PATENTs-CHAT
FROM THE CAPITAL
IRON TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT IRfBUNH.,
WASHINGTON. Jan 4. One OF the pest known cbarac-
tiers In Washington mas passed. away-a man in whose
breast were locked legislative secrets OF score or
OF years, man whose power 1t probably was TO
undo greater plumber OF public than cares to
contemplate n upon whose shoulders had fallen by
common consent, ihe mantle OF Sam" Ward. ana n
man who, not Outstanding the !aot that In the public
mind he stood the embodiment OF all the sinister inhu-
enc the @Iobby preserved TO the last the conf
denre Of his employers and those who thrown into
business relations with him.
For twenty years ana more one might have seen the
figure OF an elderly centlrmau with silvery hair and
side WHISPERS. with ooung Shoulders aud ,st-lke
gait haunt the corridors of the Capitol His features
always such air OF benevolence, that one might
easily him to he soma phlanthropis or sono
retired clergyman perhaps whose dsntercstedness took
him daily to tue Capitol 10 watch over the morals OF
Congress His mako-up ten led much 10 coahrn tuis
first impression He always dressed. with scrupn-
lous e,iness in broaicoth. wore always dapidat"d
silk hat. and displayed wha is generally described a.
- a liberal expanse OF white shirt bosom"
1t was only by watching the furve elauces which the
oil gentleman would continually cast In every direction
OF tue watchlnlness with which he folowe every thing
that gong about him, tnat one would suspect
u at he rot all lie seemed People who herve In
tue evil eye cfteu declared THAT lie had IT, Bat That
OF is nonsen,e 1t was an eye, however from
Shich the srigtest OF cats coul not have disguised
long the direction in which it int nded to Jump.
an rye cover. which could all the different
passs OF human oionn,ifetrncs. hatred, anger or
10 re- Ii was an eye witha which its the a
Iearance times Of sphinx. OF an mpenetrale riddle
OF being without an atom Of human feeling.
Tie man whose outward rpraraDce have tried to
SKETCH was Charles H. Sheriff., oil Shcrrin, as he
wis iamlliarly called by every body who did not know
him personally. The papers announced bis death this
afternoo. years he ASSISTED" legislation In Wash
gtop or In other followed tbs calling ola" lob
byist 4" Every public knew him. though few cared
in hls company. He represented here the in
teress Pacific railroads and by thUss Who wished
to please him. called the attorney" But as ne was
admitted tue bar suppose that he had no Dirt
10 his title than have the hosts OF Kernels
"Majsis anu Judges" W, o infest washington
Mr. sh,lriI, IN the pr ctce OF us profession Is rup'
uosrd 10 ave acquired large fortune, tLOugn lie ow
real esta IL tle District lie WAS always am luOu-
s~ui money To graiiy harmless vanity OF his, lie
nsd no dncuty III g,uing an entrance WI" 'ba section
Of society at east winch never SHUTS us sher' eA-
Gel t sg"i st tue very worst cas-r.
Por mnn of his riprnrnc" aud $ li-eonro Mr. sher
nil but IL NAV seem, iad
Passion fur specializing am, crrtIp klnd Of eanblns
Ough yer LOSING hehvily-hr rs TOO sharp Tor tat
constantly dabbinE III STOCKS. aud lost Lioie
often tan gained lie vas ieEuiar atiend"fii al
the thousn 1t said t.t ho made his bets with
more pr-cisvu Than udemeut
The family Relations OF Mr.. Sheriff are said TO have
MI ,Ukop Of the Of KricssrSockrr family
Two cildrrn dbIs bter ANA cot. Tue laicf
stuurDt al Y.lr snrvlve INN There II good deal al
gossip toig IL likely to take tie e Il IN the
third hun-r" irf vican by Mr. slefilis death. VINO.
ever The man. will dicu for tue Parinc Railroads
To tina as valuable iii servant ~ the OIe wbo
mas ] 81 gone to his account
The Commissioner of Patents Mr. MONTGOMERY Ia IN
rrfn-y tut at times also an Iiretney cho-
eric one aud little liri III ins nursery riymr.
Iuust that wnrn lie 1. bal. - IL hurfd
That at least what the ladies' employed under him
say. The other day attorney representing All inventor
from Northern New-l Urk vonued Ia tue course oil his
argument before Mr. Montgomery Ia character
ize a decision rendered by the bureau M InohSifoms
What do YOU mean. you - - wheipr roaIed the
COMMISSIONER " DO you know whom Jon are alkingO
BY I'd give 500 be private citizen 80 could
kick you out OF tins room ia III
YOU out o your - boots quick you wouldn't know
what halptned TO you. As 10 is, have good mnd 10
a 10 put you out
The laaies present fled preciptaiely; the attorney
deemed IL discreet leave the room, and Mr. Mont
gomery was eft in sole possession OF The Held Bat
duties vi "a pubDc OnIccrf